Sambalpur: Questions Raised About SMC’s Functioning; Sital Sasthi Festival Ended, Garbage Not Collected

Poor Clean-Up After Sital Sasthi Festival

Sambalpur: Despite crores spent on beautifying Sambalpur city, complaints continue about the poor sanitation efforts of Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC). On Monday, the grand Sital Sasthi festival concluded with massive public participation. Although the administration ensured tight security and proper arrangements during the event, the city was left littered once it ended.

Streets Overflowing With Waste

Many organizations distributed food and drinks during the scorching heat. Volunteers handed out curd sherbet and watermelons, but people threw leftovers and plastic cups on the roads. Dustbins overflowed, and garbage lay scattered in places like Golbazar, Laxmi Talkies, and Baidyanath Chowk, even till Tuesday noon.

Ring Road and Temple Area Also Affected

The situation in PhD field became chaotic as Mina Bazaar set up near Samaleswari temple drew daily crowds. The Ring Road, beautified with street lights and dividers under the Samaleswari Project, was seen filled with garbage. Thousands of devotees visit the temple daily, but the trash ruins the surroundings.

Plastic and Polythene Everywhere

Mina Bazaar, now nearly deserted, is full of discarded plastic cups and polythene. People are questioning how so much plastic entered the city when its use is officially banned. Though SMC is supposed to regulate it, there are allegations that no strict checks are being carried out. Plastic is openly used in hotels, roadside food stalls, and street vendors.

Small Sellers Penalized, Big Suppliers Ignored

SMC occasionally fines small vendors and confiscates plastic from their stalls. However, no action is taken against major businesses or companies that manufacture or supply plastic. This selective enforcement has raised public concern.

Waste Management in Disarray

The smell from piled-up garbage is becoming unbearable. People complain that SMC’s sanitation wing is ineffective and irresponsible. Waste collection vehicles are supposed to visit every morning to collect wet and dry waste separately. But residents allege that these vehicles do not come regularly, forcing them to dump trash on the roadside.

Negligent Supervision

Supervisors and ward officers have been assigned to monitor cleanliness, yet many areas remain unclean. Residents say SMC forgets its duties as soon as public events end, making the city’s beauty short-lived.